Copyright of Content and Name of Todolwen Karen Bailey 2013

Tuesday, January 15, 2013

Standing On My Soapbox ...

Hello my dear friends,

today I am standing on my soapbox to talk about something that bothers me. Please don't take me as petty when you read this but some peoples actions just tweak me.

I work very hard when I comes to creating something that is my design and also when it comes to writing a tutorial and I have no problem sharing them neither as you can see on Todolwen ~ all my free tutorials. I tend to get very unhappy when other bloggers take my tutorials, or anybpdy's tutorials for the matter of fact, and claim or make it look like that it is their own. It has happened to me on several occasions where my feather tutorial has been copied with slight changes to make it sound a little different so it seems that it wasn't mine and once this was actually done by a follower of my blog.

Why am I telling you this?

This is the reason why ...

I was on the Internet recently and for fun I typed in 'paper feathers' again and a blog came up and there was a tutorial about how to make paper feathers. Hold on a minute ... as I am reading the tutorial ... it is my tutorial word for word. Except for the last three sentences that were added but other wise, yes ... word for word copied! And ... I can't believe it ... there is my template page with my handwriting still on it, copied also from my blog and ... no where is there a word about Todolwen, the blog where this tutorial came from, but instead the blogger speaks as if she has written it herself. To make sure I wasn't over reacting I asked my daughter Ashleigh to read it and tell me what she thought and she agreed with me.

I am very unhappy to say the least!

I am surprised that my note about copyright on Todolwen didn't make this person not do this. It is sad because a few bloggers think they don't have to respect the fact that you just don't do something like this and some aren't even aware that it is wrong! What did I do? .. I left a short comment for her to get in touch with me. I want to see, maybe this lady wasn't aware that she shouldn't have just copied my tutorial. I will have to wait and see what happens next and I will for sure keep you posted about this subject.

And last but not least before I step down off my soapbox ...

All of you lovely bloggers out there ... do you know the old saying 'if the shoe fits' .. this is for you if it does. Don't copy other peoples work and claim the fame ~ PLEASE!! I don't mean to offend anybody and I hope I haven't but if you do recreate something that wasn't originally yours then make sure you post a link to the blog where you found it or at the very least credit the creator of it in your post ~ you would like that if it were you.

And finally ...

I don't often get my soapbox out and stand on it but this is one of those rare occasions that I felt the need to.

I love to vist your blog, love the beautiful things you make, and love how generous you are with your free tutorials. I simply don't understand how someone gets satisfaction out of blatently copying another person's work and claiming it as their own!

Karen,Common sense, etiquette, and copyright should be enough to make others realize that they should not copy anything at all from another's blog. Asking permission to use a photo is nice, and it is ALWAYS important to give credit to the artist for photos and/or art of any kind. I think posting a tutorial that someone else created is totally BAD business!!!!! Especially taking credit for it. SO WRONG!! I am sorry this has happened to you and so many others out there.Thank you so much for the tutorials you post for us. Your artwork is lovely, Karen.audrey xo

well said and you stand on that soap box when even you feel like it ... the true artists out here know that taking an idea and not giving the credits to the artist is so wrong. OMG! Did you write something on their blog because I know I would ...I can't believe some would do that... Hugs Wendy

I personally love soap AND the boxes they come in, wash on sister. I support your plea for integrity in the virtual world. I have been much more selfish in my sharing than your generous example precisely for this reason. It is in your favor that you are well respected and greatly appreciated - the other person will unfortunately be sullied by their actions. They really need that soap....

I appreciate your sharing of your tutorials and your designs and I have made some of your awesome feathers. When I refer to your feathers I always link your blog. I have seen variations on Pinterest but I know where the original came from, Todolwen! Get on your soap box anytime, we will listen and help any way we can. I'm not even a paper crafter and you touched my world with these amazing feathers that I love so much.Smiles,Pat

I'm so very glad you commented on her blog Karen!!! I've always been a defender of your tutorials and beautiful artwork, when I see them on Pinterest or WHERE EVER I always post your blog address as the original source. I do hope she will come clean and remove this for you! hugs and love, Dawn

It's sad that others feel they have the right to do this. I don't pin anything from a blog unless the owner gives that right. And your absolutely right to feel the way you do. Hopefully, this will reach the right people.

You're the greatest! My only fear is that this may happen just once too often and then you may not want to post a free tutorial ever again and that would be our loss. I notice that some sites have reverted to selling their tutorials and now I can understand why. So sad that a few rotten apples spoil the whole barrel.Ciao, Linda

I am so, so sorry that this shameful thing has happened to you. You are so generous and make the loveliest things and share them all the time. I am heartsick and hope this woman removes this from her site. Why do they do this?

Hello Karen,I totally agree with you. What I do, as a precaution, I place my logo on all the items I make (not the photo, but the items). Maybe that would help and teach others a lesson as well.Take care!

Karen...Your soapbox is, unfortunately, one which has had standing there some of my favorite bloggers who have experienced, as you have, the ungracious, ungrateful, uneducated and downright thieving bloggers in this cyber world. Someone will figure a way to prevent this...watermarks on photos and PDF's seem to work, somewhat. I always appreciate your tutorials. I enjoy making my own patterns for projects and sometimes your hints make that process go ever so much more smoothly for me. As some have suggested, perhaps a call out publicly of names and sites when we see this egregious behavior might work...but then again, dishonesty seems to be the only way some folks know how to operate.I will continue to read your blog and enjoy your creative explorations and creations. Thanks for sharing your talents with us on your blog.Kristin

This is the worst kind of stealing but what also gets under my skin are the pinterest photos used without proper credit. It's not good enough to just say it's from pinterest.com in their posts. Good for you for writing this post. Maybe it will prevent more of this behavior.

I always say that that imitation is NOT the sincerest form of flattery - giving credit is. But then again this seems like down right plagarism and a theft of content in your case. I've just google image searched your feather and have seen several blogs thanking you like they know you then posting the entire tutorial! Really unbelievable.

I am sorry you have had to experience thoughtless people who steal your ideas and tutorials. My Grandma taught me better than to take someone else's creative talents and copy them as mine. I am truly grateful for generous souls such as yourself who share so much. Our world is missing integrity! I am glad you got on your soapbox and put this out there. People need to respect others! Thank you Karen.

I felt worse and worse as I read this - you are one of the kindest and most sharing bloggers I have encountered and to think someone would do that to you is, well, unthinkable. It is ridiculous that someone would do that to you, taking advantage of your generous spirit... I only hope it doesn't make you change how you blog because that would be a travesty. I am so impresses that you left her a comment and I hope she does remove your tutorial and issue a proper apology, both publicly to her followers and also to you.I hope the support from your own followers has helped ease the pain and insult a little.With a very big, warm hug,Jillayne

Bravo Karen. I have on occasion seen something, sometimes for sale.. and I KNOW where it came from but no credit was given to the originator.I'm not a blogger, or much of a original creator but I know how upset I'd be of someone took my work without crediting it. It would be nice to think that everyone who does original work would never stoop to taking someone else's effort and pass it off as their own. I sympathize totally and glad you got on your soapbox, maybe it will make someone think before so thoughtlessly taking credit for something they didn't create.

:(This makes me so sad for you. We all love you so much- you are so kind and generous-- so gracious to share all that you do. I'm so sorry that someone would take advantage of you in this way. Lets be generous and hope that she just didn't know--- and that she might do the right thing in the end. If not-- honestly-- I think that you should share who it is and her blog-- so that those of us who love you (!!) can pay her a friendly little visit and leave a friendly little comment---

Don't let this change you-- stay the generous person that you are-- we all love you so much-Vicki

Welcome to my blog

About Me

My name is Karen Bailey, and my passion aside from my family is finding old things and crafting. I love walking through antique stores and other interesting places to search for new treasures that I can use for my crafts or for my home.

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My Work

All of my photographs, templates and designs are protected by copyright laws. I am happy for you to use them to share on your blogs or to pin them. A link back to Todolwen when using any of them would be appreciated.

My blog name 'Todolwen is copy written and protected by copyright laws and may not be used unless referring to my blog, my creations or myself.

Please do not copy or pin my tutorials in part or full and do not alter my photographs in any way.